Report: Topps Reveals Rejected Star Wars Art

Back in the 1990s, the Topps Company dazzled Star Wars enthusiasts with a trio of celebrated trading card sets called the Star Wars Galaxy. These series provided an illustrative, rather than photographic, overview of George Lucas’ seminal brainchild. Each showcased art used in the production of the three original movies, art used for their promotion and merchandising, and finally breathtaking, newly-commissioned art inspired by the films themselves. This last and most fanciful gallery, entitled “New Visions,” enabled illustrators from both the comic book and mainstream venues to lose themselves in imaginative bliss, dreaming up concepts and characters from Lucas’ fantasy universe that never were, but easily could have been.

Not surprisingly, some of these notions were deemed a bit “far out” by Lucasfilm’s officially designated editors. Additionally, many seemed at odds with certain aspects of the mythology that hadn’t been finalized yet. As a result, a handful of “controversial” New Visions were turned down, relegated to the catacombs of Topps’ picture archives. Until now.

With the rebirth of Star Wars Galaxy in the 21st Century as an eagerly-awaited Fourth Series, editors at Topps decided to re-visit those previously rejected paintings and renderings. Today, with so many storyline questions answered by the new episodes, many of these speculative Visions suddenly seemed viable. Some accurately predicted events in Lucas’ still-unfolding mythology, while others offered dramatically different takes on key story developments. Either way, it was decided by everyone involved that the time had finally come to reveal these previously-hidden creations to the world.

As expected, the original artists were delighted by this belated recognition of their efforts. “How great to have my Star Wars artwork finally see the light of day!” beamed Chris Moeller, one of a handful of illustrators showcased in SWG4’s special chase set entitled “The Lost Galaxy.” His unique rendering dared to show what the stormtroopers look like beneath their helmets – a full decade before George Lucas decided that all of these ubiquitous Imperial soldiers were actually clones of Jango Fett. Indeed, Boba’s enterprising father didn’t even exist as part of the Star Wars mythology back in the ’90s.

There will be a total of six Lost Galaxy cards in the new chase set. Other pieces include: Joe Ciardiello’s offbeat portrait of George Lucas; infant-style renderings of Luke and Leia by Garbage Pail Kid artist John Pound; a young Obi-Wan whisking away the infant Leia by Kevin Nowlan; an extremely formidable, Jedi-slaying Jabba by Tim Burgard; and, last but hardly least, John Rheaume’s enigmatic depiction of Yoda in the middle of a religious ceremony, on what appears to be his native world. The Rheaume piece has a rather noteworthy and controversial history of its own, having been released by accident on an earlier Star Wars Galaxy promo card before being pulled from distribution. A somewhat legendary image to collectors, it now returns as a fully-authorized Star Wars Galaxy 4 chase card, complete with a concise history of its colorful evolution. As an extra-added treat, the artist has agreed to provide his signature to a limited number of these Yoda cards.

“We’re delighted that Lucasfilm feels the same way we do about these unique illustrations,” says Ira Friedman, Topps Vice President of Publishing. “And their presence in Star Wars Galaxy 4 is only the beginning. Future Galaxy sets will contain additional ‘lost’ artwork, and other rare items too controversial for the ’90s. Clearly, their time has finally come!”

Star Wars Galaxy 4 will be available primarily in comics and hobby shops beginning Wednesday, February 11.